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Types of Philosophy Courses
Philosophy 101, while not a prerequisite to the other courses, is the basic introduction to the subject. It is designed to give beginners a grasp of the various chief issues that philosophy investigates. Philosophy 120, also at the introductory level, applies philosophical methods of investigation to problems arising from current developments in politics, medicine, urban affairs, popular culture, technology, law, and the like. Courses 103 and 109 deal in general with methods of reasoning--that is, with the standards of valid argument and inference that apply in different areas of knowledge. Philosophy 103 is an elementary introduction to modern approaches to the subject; it stresses practical applications. Philosophy 109 is the course in modern formal logic, focusing on symbolic techniques for analyzing arguments and for building logical systems. Courses 101 through 118 and 212 through 226 are field courses in the several divisions of philosophy. Each of them goes into a cluster of vital issues that arise in connection with a specific field of study represented elsewhere in the College. Look among these for courses that closely support and amplify your other work. |
Courses 140 through 148 are historical. Each of them takes up
selected writings of the major figures in an important period of
philosophy, not simply with an eye to their historical interest, but as
containing formidable arguments that philosophers of various persuasions
still explore and debate today. These courses also locate the
intellectual origins of notable artistic, scientific, and social
developments. Modern times have presented very few totally novel
philosophical issues; most have roots deep in the past, and in getting a
fix on these, one gets one's bearings on these issues in their
modern shapes.
Courses 260 through 272 are advanced. Each of them investigates in depth either a particular system of philosophy or a group of closely related classical or contemporary problems of special significance. Courses 383 through 394 are seminars and tutorials that provide directed research for advanced students. |
 
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